Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Innovation can accelerate the transition towards a sustainable food system

Mario Herrero, Philip K. Thornton, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Jeda Palmer, Tim G. Benton, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Jessica Bogard, Andy Hall, Bernice Lee, Karine Nyborg, Prajal Pradhan, Graham D. Bonnett, Brett A. Bryan, Bruce Campbell, Svend Christensen, Michael Clark, Mathew T. Cook, I.J.M. de Boer, Chris Downs, Kanar Dizyee, Christian Folberth, Cécile Godde, James Gerber, Michael Grundy, Peter Havlík, Andrew Jarvis, Richard King, Ana María Loboguerrero, M. A. Lopes, C. Lynne McIntyre, Rosamond L. Naylor, Javier Navarro Garcia, Michael Obersteiner, Alejandro Parodi, Mark B. Peoples, Ilje Pikaar, Alexander Popp, Johan Rockström, M. J. Robertson, Pete Smith, Elke Stehfest, Stephen M. Swain, Hugo Valin, Mark T. van Wijk, H.H.E. van Zanten, Sonja Vermeulen, Joost Vervoort, Paul West

Nature Food · 2020

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Summary

This Nature Food perspective by an international consortium of food systems experts argues that deliberate innovation across production, processing, distribution and consumption can substantially accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems. The authors appear to synthesise evidence on priority innovation domains—including crop breeding, precision agriculture, alternative proteins and supply chain efficiency—whilst emphasising that technological innovation alone is insufficient without complementary policy, investment and governance frameworks. The work addresses the simultaneous challenge of meeting increased nutritional demand whilst achieving environmental resilience and climate mitigation.

UK applicability

The paper's emphasis on innovation-driven food system transitions is relevant to UK policy ambitions around net-zero agriculture and food security. However, recommendations would require contextualisation to UK land availability constraints, existing regulatory frameworks, consumer behaviour patterns and the current state of UK agricultural innovation infrastructure.

Key measures

As suggested by the title and authorship, likely metrics include greenhouse gas emissions trajectories, nutrient delivery efficiency, land use intensity, food security outcomes and environmental resilience indicators across multiple food system stages.

Outcomes reported

The paper synthesises evidence on how intentional innovation across production, processing, distribution and consumption can accelerate transitions towards sustainable food systems. It identifies priority innovation areas and argues for the necessity of supportive policy, investment and governance frameworks alongside technological advancement.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Food & agricultural policy
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1038/s43016-020-0074-1
Catalogue ID
BFmokjo7hj-kxuvkt

Topic tags

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